Magnus Carlsen: Poker is Stressful, Chess is Easier

Magnus Carlsen, the world chess champion, recently shared his experiences with poker, highlighting the differences between the two games. He finished 63rd in the EPT tournament, earning €15,000. This was his first time cashing in such a prestigious tournament.

Carlsen's first encounter with poker was in 2007 when he attended a chess tournament in Monte Carlo. He recalled, "I was in this very hall in 2007. I was 18 years old, I came to Monte Carlo for a chess tournament. I knew that a large poker series was being held nearby, and that in the main tournament of the EPT, Alexander Grischuk was participating, who was then in the top ten and is still one of the best chess players in the world. I came to cheer."

In recent years, Carlsen has shown a renewed interest in poker. He signed a contract with Unibet in 2020 and regularly plays in the Norwegian Poker Championship. He also participated in the main tournament of the WSOP in Las Vegas and appeared on the popular poker show Hustler. Despite his interest in the game, Carlsen admits that he does not have big ambitions in poker. "In poker, I have no ambitions; I get pleasure, it's interesting, but no more. I don't work on the game at all, although it would be worth it. But I like discussing hands with fellow players."